Q summer

These last two days have been quintessential summer: sunshine and warm weather and freezies and redfeathered faces beading with sweat and smiles; tanned kids flying high on long, chain-linked playground swings, bathing suits and splash pads, sun and long days - from morning to night full of outdoor activity and play. If I even start thinking about "too hot" the memories of winter freeze them out and away... I love the summer! We're back in London and it is so good to be home (we have a backyard - with grass and a trampoline and a mini pool and sports equipment galore!). I had a great time in BC, but missed the kids like crazy; I'd love to be involved in the program again, but might have to bring along a few mini- (and one maxi-) volleyballers. Speaking of mini-volleyballers, I set up a net in the back yard - salvaged from the university and carted home (on a bike), somehow stuffed between my backpack and hoodie (as if a sword) - and Hendrik is ready to play! He's also into tennis in the basement, with two mini-sticks nets beside each other as the net; and he smokes the ball - he has us dodging fastballs down there. Alana is busy following Hendrik's lead, and these long days spent outdoors have the kids ready for bed (or napping in the afternoon and not ready for bed) come evening, though there are nights when they are up way later than they should be (tonight). I have one more coaching gig (in Toronto) and then Steve and I are off to Greece for 10 days to celebrate a wedding and enjoy some time alone (yay!). This weekend we are staycationing: going camping in our backyard (I think), hitting the beach, and staying low-key (I hope). Long live summer!

some important people...

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Hello all! Here's an update from beautiful Whistler, BC, where I'm coaching and breathing volleyball with this year's edition of the Women's Youth National Volleyball team. With 40 athletes, 8 coaches, amazing accommodations (Whistler Athlete Centre - come and stay here!), and a whole lot of expertise, everyone has their hands full... but it's amazing. Between the ages of 15 and 17, these girls are our future senior national team athletes, and they have amazing careers in sport ahead of them - and it sure does bring me right back to my time as an athlete. And from from beginning to end, there are only a handful of people who really made me who I am, and I don't think I'd have had the experiences and opportunities I did or become the person I am without them. Here are some introductions and photos  (I've seen most of them - or will see most of them! - on this trip) - this trip is taking me on a walk down memory lane!

My Parents
Is this not the most obvious number one influence in my life? It is. My parents have always so supportive of everything I did, and gave me so many opportunities to be active. As a kid I did karate, synchronized swimming, swimming lessons, skating lessons, and tennis lessons; I was a brownie and a girl guide, and learned about teamwork and friendship. I played volleyball and basketball and club volleyball and on regional and provincial teams, and summers were full of sports camps and amazing vacations away from the gym. In the winter we went skiing and in the summer we camped and hiked and I joined the book club at the library, and somewhere somehow in there I grew a competitive edge that is still (really) as sharp as it's ever been. They've talked me through tough decisions and have always been there, rock solid. They are my #1.

Coaches  (Above: Shaun McGuinness and John McGowan)
There are two or three coaches who are and have been the next biggest influence in my life and career. Would I be where I am today without coaches? No. Would I have met Steve and have this amazing little posse of people with me in my life? No. These people taught me (and I learned!) the value of hard work, commitment and perseverance; they taught me to really believe in myself, to go after my dreams, and to put more time in in the gym. And they spent hours and hours and hours of their free time with me and my teammates helping us and/or helping me get better and stronger and more adept at my sport. If it weren't for these people, I wouldn't be where I am today.

every one of these ladies i met through sport - love them all!

teammmmmmates!

teammates!

Teammates
I have the best group of friends in the world, and I've met most of them (all of them?) through sport. I met my very best friend ever ever ever in grade 9 on a club volleyball team, and I've met people from all over the world through sport; my strongest, most supportive network of friends are former teammates. Having been through the ups and downs of learning and team dynamics, of successful and unsuccessful tryouts, of positive and negative experiences with coaches, systems, and teammates, and through maximum effort of the heart body mind spirit in the gym and on the court, we speak the same language. We supported each other then and we support each other now, and these connections and lifelines will last forever.

Yay for sport and for all of those that support young (and old!) dreamers along the way - and a huge thank you to those that continue to support and inspire!

Back in BC!

Being back in BC feels like being back at home - though I'm missing a few key ingredients (named Steve and Hendrik and Alana). I flew in on Tuesday afternoon and am coaching at the Olympic Oval in Richmond until Sunday; the I head up to Whistler with 40 of the best 16 and 17 year olds in the country to train and have fun and play a few red and white matches. I'm really looking forward to getting to the hands-on coaching aspect of the job as we've spent most of our time so far in the identification phase, watching athletes compete in the NTCC tournament. I am also really looking forward to the drive up there - through West Van and Squamish. It sure was strange arriving here and not heading straight home through Stanley Park and over the Lions Gate bridge with my dad behind the wheel, but I'll get to see my parents in Whistler (and I can't wait!). It's been great seeing coaches and friends here in Richmond, and I've caught up with lots of volleyball friends (and met new ones) - but I'll fill you in on that later. My body is still on Ontario time and after a 12 hour plus day in the gym, I am tired! Bed. Soon. More to come blogside soon!!

briefly...

We've had a few wonderful days here in Bowmanville with Auntie Erin and Lennon and Grandma and Gramps - the whole crew is almost here! Erin went to pick up Fred, and come tonight the Brinkman clan will be complete. The kids may be the most Bowmanville-loving citizens you'll ever find, and we've been out and about around town already: berry picking and play at Watson's Farm, splash padding and playgrounding down by the lake, and lots of treats and good times here at the house. They're ready to go outside as soon as breakfast is over and are back out after dinner - it is great being able to spend so much time outside. I sure am going to miss them on my upcoming 12-day trip to BC, but the opportunity to coach the best 16 year-olds in the country isn't something I could pass up. I'll join a small crew of coaches from across the country to select and train the youth national team (volleyball) out of the upcoming NTCC tournament in Richmond BC - and from there we'll head up to Whistler where the group will train and play red and white matches. I'll get to see my parents while I'm out there - and any other friends that feel like driving out to Richmond or up to Whistler! I would love to find time for the kids to come out and for all of us to get over to Thetis for a few weeks, but hopefully we can plan a big trip out west next summer.

cousins!

berry picking at watson's farm

summer!

from canada day - teepee peek out!

That's all I've got for tonight - after a long bike ride, a run, and another full day with kids, I'm ready to relax!

summer!

So far on this warm and sunny Sunday, I have accomplished two of my three goals for the day - thought up on the spot this morning: I have vacuumed and I have returned a pile of library books... but that is not all! I also bought a tennis racket at a garage sale (though one tennis racket doesn't do anyone much good, but for $5 it's a start), took the kids swimming, went to Costco and did laundry. My last goal of the day is to go running, but it's a hot 26 degrees out so I may just wait until the sun starts setting.

I've read a few books this week, and stayed up way too late doing so. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian (good, and a quick read!) and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (another good one, though not a quick read) monopolized my evenings and compromised any early morning activities - i.e. the never before done before breakfast workouts that  may be the secret to getting runs and workouts in. I AM GOING TO GO for a run this evening though - I must! Other things on the agenda for the day include making a raspberry cake and maybe even sewing some curtains. Kapow! We'll see.

Steve and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary (and 14 years together!) last night by battling a few mosquitos on our deck whilst enjoying a caipirinha, thanks to Shanti's booze run straight from Belo Horizonte Brazil via Palm Springs to London Ontario. And we celebrated Canada Day at a park here in town where the kids clambered on military vehicles and boats and ate ice cream and waved little paper flags around. We managed to get a bit of a rest in before we headed to a friend's house for a BBQ - after which we were all tuckered out from the non-stop events of the day. And with summer vacation in full swing, we've also made the trip out to Port Stanley (the kids LOVED the beach), visited a strawberry farm, and enjoyed more than a few bike rides and local park visits. We're heading to Storybook Gardens tomorrow, and want to make it down to a park in St. Thomas before we visit Steve's family in Bowmanville for a mini-vacation. We are loving this warm summer weather and having a back yard with grass, a kiddie pool and a trampoline means that even when there isn't much to do... there is. Yay for summer!

Thetis Island, 2009

chairs and chips, in the pool

summer bounty!

Canada Day cuddles - I LOVE it when they're nice to each other!

ice cream makes any day a good one!

Port Stanley